Sorption of Ammonium Ions onto Natural and Modified Egyptian Kaolinites: Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies

[摘要] Thermally activated, acid-activated, and acid-leached of thermally activated kaolinites were prepared from the Egyptian ore. The physical and chemical properties were studied using N2sorption at −196°C, FTIR, SEM, and the total surface acidity. The sorption ofNH4+ions on the investigated sorbents was controlled with the solution pH, sorbent dosage, and initial concentration ofNH4+solution. Kinetic and equilibriumNH4+sorption at 30°C were employed. Four kinetic models were applied to the kinetic sorption data; pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models fitted well the kinetic data whereas pseudo-first-order model was less applicable. Elovich parameters refer to physical sorption type ofNH4+on nonuniform sites and the intraparticle diffusion controls the sorption ofNH4+by kaolinites to a small extent. The equilibrium sorption data followed Langmuir and D-R models; the negative value ofΔGindicates a spontaneous sorption and the mean sorption energy obtained shows also physical sorption. The sorption capacities of nonactivated and activated Egyptian kaolinites towardsNH4+sorption (10.87–45.45 mg·g−1) were good sorbents as compared with those uptaken by other clays reported in the literature and proved to be more active besides being less expensive and highly available.

[学科分类] 物理化学和理论化学